CAMP SAFE!

This summer like every summer, the masses will gear up and head into the great outdoors with virtually no thought given to the subject of personal safety even though there likely will be nothing between them and the world except a thin layer of nylon or canvas. That’s not a criticism; it’s a statement of fact. And it’s unlikely to change.

However, you’re a martial artist, and that means you do everything with an eye on personal safety, not to mention the safety of any loved ones who are accompanying you, people for whom you feel responsible. It’s for this group of martial artists that I decided to merge the knowledge I’ve gained from a lifetime of camping with the experience I’ve acquired from my 40-plus years in the martial arts — including the pro tips I’ve gleaned from the combatives professionals, police officers and self-defense experts who find their way into Black Belt.

When you’re at home, your first and best line of defense against almost everything is the building in which you live. Therefore, presented below are the main categories of shelter that are available to campers, listed from those offering the least protection to those offering the most protection against threats to health and happiness. Those threats include the elements, insects, snakes, human